Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé :  
Classifying species by shared life-history traits is important if common ecological response groups are to be identified among different species. We investigated how habitat area, local and regional factors shape plant communities in small isolated closed depressions, and how the species richness is related to the interplay between environmental factors and specific life-history trait combinations. In Central-Western Europe, 169 closed depressions were completely Surveyed for plant presence in two highly contrasted landscapes (forested and open landscapes). All species were clustered into 9 Emergent Groups based oil 10 life-history traits related to plant dispersal, establishment and persistence. Habitat areas were related to species presence using logistic regressions. Most Emergent Groups were more area-dependent in open than in forested landscapes, owing to heterogeneous light levels in forest weakening the species-area relationship. In open landscapes, Floating Hydrophytes were severely underrepresented in very small depressions, owing to the absence of waterfowl poulation. Local environmental and regional factors were related to species richness using Generalized Linear Models. In open landscapes, local environmental factors such as water conductivity or soil productivity are respectively the main predictors. In forested landscapes, the abundance of most Emergent Groups Was better predicted by regional factors, i.e., habitat connectivity and distance to the forest edge. Forested landscapes strongly impeded the closed depressions' colonization by the less mobile Emergent Groups Such as Large-seeded Perennials.
ISSN: 1146-609X

hal-01032144
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032144
DOI : 10.1016/j.actao.2009.02.002

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD PeerJ
Résumé : International audience
The adaptative bleaching hypothesis (ABH) states that, depending on the symbiotic flexibility of coral hosts (i.e., the ability of corals to ''switch'' or ''shuffle'' their algal symbionts), coral bleaching can lead to a change in the composition of their associated Symbiodinium community and, thus, contribute to the coral's overall survival. In order to determine the flexibility of corals, molecular tools are required to provide accurate species delineations and to detect low levels of coral-associated Symbiodinium. Here, we used highly sensitive quantitative (real-time) PCR (qPCR) technology to analyse five common coral species from Moorea (French Polynesia), previously screened using only traditional molecular methods, to assess the presence of low-abundance (background) Symbiodinium spp. Similar to other studies, each coral species exhibited a strong specificity to a particular clade, irrespective of the environment. In addition, however, each of the five species harboured at least one additional Symbiodinium clade, among clades A–D, at background levels. Unexpectedly, and for the first time in French Polynesia, clade B was detected as a coral symbiont. These results increase the number of known coral-Symbiodinium associations from corals found in French Polynesia, and likely indicate an underestimation of the ability of the corals in this region to associate with and/or ''shuffle'' different Symbiodinium clades. Altogether our data suggest that corals from French Polynesia may favor a trade-off between optimizing symbioses with a specific Symbiodinium clade(s), maintaining associations with particular background clades that may play a role in the ability of corals to respond to environmental change. How to cite this article Rouzé et al. (2017), An updated assessment of Symbiodinium spp. that associate with common scleractinian corals from Moorea (French Polynesia) reveals high diversity among background symbionts and a novel finding of clade B.
ISSN: 2167-8359

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
hal-01430294
https://hal-sde.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01430294
https://hal-sde.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01430294/document
https://hal-sde.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01430294/file/Rouze-2017-PeerJ-Updated.pdf
DOI : 10.7717/peerj.2856

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Royal Society of Chemistry
Résumé : International audience
Chemical mediation regulates behavioral interactions between species and thus affects population structure,community organization and ecosystem function. Among marine taxa that have developed chemicalmediation strategies, gastropods belong to a diverse group of molluscs found worldwide, including specieswith a coiled, reduced or absent shell. Most gastropods use natural products to mediate a wide range ofbehaviors such as defense, prey location or interactions with con- and hetero-geners. Their chemicallydefended diet, such as cyanobacteria, algae, sponges, bryozoans and tunicates, provides them witha considerable opportunity either as shelter from predators, or as a means to enhance their own chemicaldefense. In addition to improving their defenses, molluscs also use prey secondary metabolites in complexchemical communication including settlement induction, prey detection and feeding preferences. Theassimilation of prey secondary metabolites further provides the opportunity for interactions withconspecifics via diet-derived chemical cues or signals. This review intends to provide an overview on thesequestration, detoxification, and biotransformation of diet-derived natural products, as well as the role ofthese compounds as chemical mediators in gastropod-prey interactions.
ISSN: 0265-0568

hal-01563402
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01563402
DOI : 10.1039/c6np00097e

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Laboratoire Arago
Résumé : International audience
As it is unlikely that successful settlement is solely a matter of chance (i.e. tofind a suitable habitat), one of the greatest challenges facing the fish larvae is how to locate therelatively rare patches of coral reef habitat on which they settle and ultimately reside as adults.The answer must lie partly in the sensory modalities of fishes at settlement. Habitat selection isonly possible if fish larvae could detect some environmental cues to select a suitable reef habitatat settlement. The present review aims at providing the latest works dealing with informationperception in coral reef fish larvae at settlement. Two decades ago, it was generally assumedthat larval behaviors and sensory abilities at settlement were considered too feeble to significantlyaffect dispersal outcomes. Several recent studies showed that recognition of suitable reefhabitats by fish larvae at settlement is based on a combination of visual, chemical and acousticcues. The first part of our review shows the main advances in the knowledge of visual, chemicaland acoustic cues used by fish larvae to detect an island, a reef, a micro-habitat, a conspecific orsome predators. The second part of our review deals with the effect of imprinting and/or innatecapabilities. The third part focuses on the different cues used at different scales and underlinessome contradictory results about the distance of transmission and detection of chemical andacoustic cues in coral reefs. Finally, as global and regional environmental changes have stressedcoral reefs to such an extent that they are either destroyed or in decline, the fourth part presentsthe effects of both anthropogenic and environmental stressors on information perception andresponse capacities in coral reef fish larvae. If polluted seawater disrupts the larval abilities tofind a suitable reef habitat, fish larvae may spend more time in the planktonic environment,resulting in increased energetic costs and predation risk, and consequently a lower larval settlement.We hypothesise that as the stability of fish communities is dependent, in part, on the stabilityof social interactions, the disruption of “larvae-habitat relationships” can have major consequencesfor larval settlement into adult population with further repercussions for the ecosystemas a whole. Overall, larval settlement of coral reef fish is an excellent example of the complexityof interactions between an organism and its environment as without perceiving environmentalcues, fish larva would have very little chance of selecting a suitable reef habitat. Moreover,understanding the relationship between reef state and settlement potential will allow managementplanning for the maintenance of coral reefs that are increasingly degraded.
ISSN: 0240-8759

hal-01191776
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01191776

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis disruption and subsequent bleaching are major concerns, especially regarding their ecological consequences on coral reefs and temperate coralligenous communities. Cnidarian bleaching is caused by a variety of environmental stressors, such as elevated seawater temperature associated with global climate change, and by pollutants, such as herbicides and metals. Several cellular events have been described to explain symbiosis dysfunction and bleaching. Excess or damaged Symbiodinium symbionts are removed through a variety of mechanisms, including exocytosis, apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. However, few studies have compared in the same species the relative involvement of these mechanisms, according to the stress inducing the bleaching. In this study, we used two different treatments —temperature and menthol— to induce bleaching in the sea anemone Anemonia viridis. By monitoring the ultrastructural tissue modifications, in control specimens we observed a basal rate of in situ symbiont digestion —or symbiophagy— induced by starvation. Symbiophagy was strongly induced in menthol-treated specimens and was the main cellular process of bleaching, whereas apoptosis and necrosis predominated in hyperthermal-induced bleaching. These results suggested a host effect through autophagy in menthol-treated specimens. These observations also suggested that symbiont removal may result from reengagement of the phagosomal maturation process in the host. These overall data demonstrate that several Symbiodinium cell removal mechanisms coexist and that stressors can activate one or more of these pathways, depending on the stress type, intensity or duration.
ISSN: 0334-5114

hal-01546908
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01546908
DOI : 10.1007/s13199-016-0406-y

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : Question: To establish a habitat classification based on functional group co-occurrence that may help the drawing up of conservation plans. Location: Riverine forest fragments in the Grand-duché de Luxembourg, Europe. Methods: Forest fragments were surveyed for their abundance of vascular plants. These were clustered into emergent groups according to 14 life-traits related 10 plant dispersal, establishment and persistence. Forest fragments were classified according to similar distribution of the identified emergent groups. Environmental factors were related to the emergent group richness in each forest type using generalized linear models. Results: Contrary to former species centred classification, only two groups of forests, each with clearly different emergent group composition and conservation requirements. Were detected: (1) swamp forests characterized by anemogamous perennials, annuals and hydrochorous perennials and (2) moist forests characterized by barochorous perennials, small geophytes and zoochorous phanerophytes. From a conservation point of view, priority should he given to large swamp forest with intact flooding regimes his is in accordance with the high wind and water dispersal capacities of their typical emergent groups. For the moist forests. conservation priorities should he high forest connectivity and historical continuity since dispersal and establishment of their characteristic emergent groups arc highly limited. Conclusions: The described methodology, situated at an intermediate integration level between the individual species and whole community descriptors. takes advantage of both conservation plans built for single species and the synthetic power of bread ecological measures.
ISSN: 1402-2001

hal-01031884
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01031884

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
ISSN: 0378-1127

hal-01087219
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01087219
DOI : 10.1016/j.foreco.2008.09.010

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Ecological signs of Earth's biosphere forewarn an alarming trajectory towards a global mass-extinction. Assessing species performance and susceptibilities to decline is essential to comprehend and reverse this trend. Yet it is challenging, given difficulties associated with quantifying individual and population processes that are variable across time, space, and life-stages. We describe a new approach to estimating and comparing species performances that combines empirical data, a novel theoretical consideration of population dynamics, and modern statistics. Our approach allows for a more realistic continuous representation of individual performances along development stages while taking into account non-linearity, and natural variability as captured by spatio-temporally replicated observations. We illustrate its application in a coral meta-assemblage composed of populations of the three major reef-building taxa Acropora, Pocillopora, Porites. Using a unique set of highly replicated observations of individual coral dynamics under various environmental conditions, we show how taxa differ in their investment in recruitment and size-specific aptitude for growth and survival, notably through different use of clonal shrinkage, fragmentation, fission, and fusion processes. Our results reveal contrasting life-history trade-offs among taxa which, along with differing patterns of density-dependent recruitment, modulate species responses to decline. These differences in coral life history traits reflect opposing life-strategies, imply regulation at differing life-stages, and explain divergence in species trajectories. Our findings indicate a high potential for resilience in Pocillopora and Porites populations, thanks respectively to a sustained recruitment that promotes demographic elasticity through replacement of individuals, and a steady resistance to mortality which confers persistence through lingering of individuals. Resilience in Acropora appears more arbitrary, given high susceptibility to perturbations and dependency of recruitment on presence of established local populations. We identify management actions that can complement Acropora's life history and benefit recovery of its populations following mortality events. Our regression-modelling approach to quantifying and comparing species performances in different population processes is applicable to all taxa, as illustrated even those with complex clonal life histories, and can be implemented at wide spatio-temporal and taxonomic coverage. It can promote more accurate representation of species dynamics in both descriptive and predictive modelling approaches. The semi-parametric contrast curve method we develop facilitates comparing response variables along continuous explicative metrics while accounting for multiple sources of complexity in empirical data. It should widely benefit investigations in ecology and quantitative science.
ISSN: 1476-945X

hal-01212337
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01212337
DOI : 10.1016/j.ecocom.2015.07.003

Éditeur(s) : Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd
Résumé : Scientific fisheries surveys routinely identify a large diversity of commercial and non-commercial benthic megainvertebrates that could provide useful information for Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) descriptors. Species is obviously the basic taxonomic level to which most ecological studies and theories refer. Identification at this level of organization is indeed always preferred over any other taxonomic level. Nevertheless, aggregation of species to higher taxonomic levels may be unavoidable sometimes, since errors of identification are known or suspected to occur in many surveys. Using analyses of taxonomic sufficiency (identification of organisms at various taxonomic resolutions) and groups of morphospecies (taxa identified easily by non-experts on the basis of evident morphological traits), this study aims to quantify the loss of ecological information incurred by partial identification of benthic megafauna in bottom trawl surveys in order to put such data to good use. The analyses were conducted on five scientific surveys representing a large range of geographical areas (from 150 km2 to 150 000 km2) and environmental conditions. Results show that genus, family and, particularly, morphospecies are good surrogates for species identification in community analyses. We suggest that bottom trawl surveys can provide reliable megafauna data that may usefully complete those obtained by grab surveys. The use of morphospecies could lead to new strategies, combining different datasets to provide indicators for MSFD descriptors (e.g. D6).
Continental Shelf Research (0278-4343) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2014-01 , Vol. 72 , P. 1-9

Droits : 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00162/27309/25538.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.csr.2013.10.015
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00162/27309/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : The suitability of the natural 15N abundance and of total N concentration of leaves as indicators of the type of plant N nutrition in a rain forest of French Guiana were tested. Leaf samples from primary legume species, non-legumes (pioneer species) and from the non-N2-fixing species Dicorynia guianensis were analyzed. Both '15N and total leaf N varied widely (m1 r '15N (‰) r 7 and 1 r leaf N(%) r 3.2) suggesting possible distinctions between diazotrophic and non-fixing plants. The '15N also revealed two statistically distinct groups of non-N2-fixing species ('15N = 5.14 - 0.3 vs '15Nv=v1.65 - 0.17) related to the different ecological behaviors of these species in the successional processes. We conclude that the '15N signature of plant leaves combined with their total N concentration may be relevant indicators for identifying functional groups within the community of non-N2-fixing species, as well as for detecting diazotrophy. Despite the variability in the '15N of the non-N2-fixing species, N2-fixing groups can still be identified, provided that plants are simultaneously classified taxonomically, by their leaf '15N and total N concentration and by the presence or absence of nodules. The variability in the '15N of the non-fixing species is discussed.
ISSN: 0029-8549

hal-01031454
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01031454
DOI : 10.1007/s004420050846

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier Sci Ltd
Résumé : Time-series studies have reported trophic cascades in land, freshwater and marine environments in many geographic areas. However, the spatial extent of habitats, a key metric of ecosystem structure, has not been mapped in these studies. Marine reserves can provide experimental, before-after and inside-outside (control-impacted), situations for assessing the impact of fishing on ecosystems. We mapped seabed habitats and their associated communities (biotopes) in New Zealand's oldest marine reserve for comparison with pre-reserve maps created about 30 years previously. Areas grazed bare by sea urchins were entirely replaced in the centre of the reserve by kelp, or alga turf, an intermediate biotope between heavily grazed encrusting algae and lightly grazed kelp. Urchins declined following increased abundance and body size of spiny (rock) lobsters and fish (especially snapper) in the reserve but maintained bare rock outside. While this gradient in habitat change matched the gradient of predator abundance, it also matched the extent of reef habitat area. Thus the trophic cascade may be influenced by the effect of habitat on the abundance and behavioural interactions of urchins and their predators. Further ecosystem changes may arise should the abundance of mega-predators, such as seals, cetaceans and large sharks, increase in the region; if parasites become pathogenic; and/or when invasive species reach the reserve. No-take marine reserves provide real-world experiments that show the importance of species in food webs, and the consequences of fishing for ecosystems. Because these changes in ecosystem structure may continue, and will vary with environment, climate and species distributions, reserves need to be permanent and replicated geographically. Habitat maps should be produced for all reserves to enable ecological changes in the ecosystem to be spatially quantified. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biological Conservation (0006-3207) (Elsevier Sci Ltd), 2012-10 , Vol. 155 , P. 193-201

Droits : 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00107/21842/20067.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2012.05.009
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00107/21842/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) is a non-bacterial seafood poisoning well characterized in the remote archipelagos of French Polynesia, yet poorly documented in the Society archipelago, most notably on Moorea, the second most populated island in French Polynesia, which counts a high proportion of fishermen fishing on a regular basis. To address this knowledge gap, a holistic study of the ciguatera issue was conducted on Moorea. First, ciguatera risk was analysed in terms of incidence rate, fish species most commonly involved and risk stratification in Moorea lagoon based on 2007–2013 epidemiological data. A mean incidence rate of 8 cases per 10,000 inhabitants for the study period and an average under-reporting rate of 54% were found. Taking into account hospitalization and medication fees, and loss of productive days, the health-related costs due to CFP were estimated to be USD $1613 and $749 for each reported and unreported case, respectively, with an overall cost of USD $241,847 for the study period. Comparison of the present status of CFP on Moorea with a risk map established in the late 1970’s showed that the spatial distribution of the risk has stayed relatively stable in time, with the north shore of the island remaining the most prone to ciguatera. Evaluation of the current knowledge on CFP among different populations groups, i.e. fishermen, residents and visitors, was also conducted through direct and indirect interviews. About half of the fishermen interviewed were actually able to identify risky fishing areas. While, overall, the CFP risk perception in the fishing community of Moorea seemed accurate, although not scientifically complete, it was sufficient for the safe practice of their fishing activities. This may be due in part to adaptive responses adopted by 36% of the fishermen interviewed, such as the avoidance of either high-risk fishing sites or toxic species. At the residents and visitors’ level, the study points out a striking lack of awareness of the CFP issue among visitors, as compared to local residents. Indeed, less than 25% of Moorea visitors vs. an average of 98% in residents were aware of CFP or of its presence on the island. Interestingly, evaluation of the fish consumption preferences showed that 70% of visitors do not consume lagoon fish during their stay, not for fear of CFP, but mainly due to the lack of availability of these species in recreational facilities or because they have nutritional preference for pelagic fish. This lack of awareness, along with the report by several CFP patients of the consumption of fish species yet banned for sale, stress the need for improved communication efforts on this critical issue among both residents and visitors on Moorea. The implementation of a public outreach strategy is proposed, based on both existing information networks and low-cost communication actions through information displays at various strategic locations, e.g. Tahiti-Faa’a international airport, the ferry boat station, recreational facilities, as well as the major trading points on Moorea Island.
ISSN: 1568-9883

hal-01391648
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01391648
DOI : 10.1016/j.hal.2016.10.003

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Forty years after the image of the Mediterranean transformed into a giant salty lake was first conceived, the fascinating history of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) still arouses great interest across a large and diverse scientific community. Early outcrop studies which identified severe palaeoenvironmental changes affecting the circum-Mediterranean at the end of the Miocene, were followed by investigations of the marine geology during the 1950s to 1970s. These were fundamental to understanding the true scale and importance of the Messinian event. Now, after a long period of debate over several entrenched but largely untested hypotheses, a unifying stratigraphic framework of MSC events has been constructed. This scenario is derived mainly from onshore data and observations, but incorporates different perspectives for the offshore and provides hypotheses that can be tested by drilling the deep Mediterranean basins.The MSC was an ecological crisis, induced by a powerful combination of geodynamic and climatic drivers, which had a great impact on the subsequent geological history of the Mediterranean area, and on the salinity of the global oceans. These changed the Mediterranean's connections with both the Atlantic Ocean and the freshwater Paratethyan basins, causing high-amplitude fluctuations in the hydrology of the Mediterranean. The MSC developed in three main stages, each of them characterized by different palaeoenvironmental conditions. During the first stage, evaporites precipitated in shallow sub-basins; the MSC peaked in the second stage, when evaporite precipitation shifted to the deepest depocentres; and the third stage was characterized by large-scale environmental fluctuations in a Mediterranean transformed into a brackish water lake.The very high-resolution timescale available for some Late Miocene intervals in the Mediterranean makes it possible to consider environmental variability on extremely short time scales including, in some places, annual changes. Despite this, fundamental questions remain, some of which could be answered through new cores from the deepest Mediterranean basins. Improvements in seismic imaging and drilling techniques over the last few decades make it possible to plan to core the entire basinal Messinian succession for the first time. The resulting data would allow us to decipher the causes of this extreme environmental change and its global-scale consequences.
ISSN: 0025-3227

hal-01115664
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01115664
DOI : 10.1016/j.margeo.2014.02.002

Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles Études caribéennes
Résumé : Ce numéro de la Revue Études Caribéennes s’intéresse aux liens qui unissent et opposent l’activité touristique et les ressources naturelles, particulièrement dans les pays du Sud. Dans un contexte de médiatisation accrue des enjeux liés à la biodiversité et aux menaces qui pèsent sur elle, le tourisme – et particulièrement l’écotourisme – est souvent présenté comme un moyen de concilier la conservation et le développement. Les autorités locales, malgré l’existence d’un cadre réglementaire propre à l’environnement, ne disposent souvent pas de moyens suffisants (humains, matériels et financiers) pour gérer la croissance de la fréquentation des aires protégées et ses effets potentiels sur l’environnement naturel et humain. En réponse à cette problématique, les institutions financières internationales et les organismes associés proposent aux pays du Sud de trouver un équilibre entre une fréquentation de masse et une fréquentation de bas volume afin de développer « un tourisme de haute qualité ». Même si cela était possible, quels critères peuvent être utilisés pour « cesser » le développement d’un pôle ou d’une région touristique ? L’évolution géographique « naturelle » du tourisme – c’est-à-dire essentiellement basée sur la mise en tourisme de la nature et sur l’accessibilité de ces ressources – pose déjà des problèmes politiques et économiques importants. Les gouvernements (central, régional ou local) sont difficilement en mesure de réaliser un arbitrage de long terme dans ce contexte qui permettrait l’adéquation entre le développement touristique et la préservation des espaces naturels. La relation entre le tourisme et les ressources naturelles s’articule souvent autour de deux objectifs spécifiques, soient : développer un produit à moindre impact, mais aux dépenses élevées et viser un volume de visiteurs qui contribue aux profits économiques, mais qui amène le moins de dégradation écologique/sociale possible. Cette position résume à elle seule à la fois la complexité et les multiples paradoxes dans lesquels s’insère la mise en tourisme de la nature. Les dynamiques sociales et l’extension de l’appropriation privative des espaces naturels et agricoles posent la problématique des modes de gestion des ressources communes et de leur pérennité, particulièrement dans les pays du Sud. Dans ce contexte, les objectifs, les ressources et les stratégies des principaux acteurs concernés sont difficilement conciliables et le système de relation qu’il induit n’est pas nécessairement en phase avec les finalités poursuivies. This edition of Revue Etudes Caribéennes focuses on the links that unite and oppose tourism and natural resources, specifically in southern countries. In a context of increased media coverage of issues related to biodiversity (including threats to it), tourism – particularly ecotourism – is often presented as a mean to reconcile conservation and development. Local authorities, despite the existence of a specific environmental regulatory framework, often have insufficient resources (human, material, financial) to manage the increase of visits to protected areas, and the potential impact of these visits on natural and human environments. In response to this problem, international financial institutions and associated organizations offer to try to find a balance between mass attendance and low volume attendance in order to develop "high quality tourism" in southern countries. Even if this were possible, what criteria can be used to "stop" the development of a tourist site or region for environmental reasons? The “natural” geographic evolution of tourism – in other words, essentially based on the development of nature tourism and accessibility of these resources – already causes huge political and economic problems. Governments (central, regional or local) are hardly able to arbitrate over the long term in a context that would allow finding a balance between tourism development and preservation of natural areas. The relationship between tourism and natural resources often revolves around two specific objectives: to develop a product with less impact, but at high cost and a target volume of visitors that contributes to economic profits, but that causes the least ecological / social degradation possible. This position epitomizes both the complexity and the many paradoxes of nature tourism development. Social interactions and the expansion of private appropriation of natural and agricultural areas highlight the challenges of managing common resources and their sustainability, especially in the southern countries. In this context, development objectives, natural resources and the strategies of key stakeholders are difficult to reconcile, and the relationship between leading actors do not always correspond with these objectives. Esta edición de “Revue Études Caribéennes” se interesa a los lazos que unen y separan la actividad turística y los recursos naturales, particularmente en los países del sur. En un contexto de mediatización en alza sobre los objetivos ligados a la biodiversidad y a las amenazas que pesan sobre ella, el turismo – y particularmente el ecoturismo – está a menudo presentado como un medio de conciliar la conservación y el desarrollo. Las autoridades locales, pese a la existencia de un cuadro propio de reglamentación al medio ambiente, no disponen habitualmente de suficientes medios (humanos, materiales y financieros) para controlar el aumento de visitas en las áreas protegidas y sus efectos potenciales sobre el ambiente natural y humano. En respuesta a esta problemática, las instituciones financieras internacionales y los organismos asociados proponen a los países del sur encontrar un equilibrio entre la frecuentación de masas y una frecuentación de bajo volumen con el objetivo de desarrollar “un turismo de alta calidad”. Incluso si fuese posible, ¿qué criterios podrían ser utilizados para “cesar” el desarrollo de un centro o una región turística? La evolución geográfica “natural” del turismo – esencialmente basada en el desarrollo del turismo de la naturaleza y el acceso de sus recursos – crean problemas políticos y económicos enormes. Los gobiernos (central, regional o local) tienen dificultades para realizar un arbitraje a largo plazo en este contexto que permitiría la adecuación entre el desarrollo turístico y la preservación de los espacios naturales. La relación entre el turismo y los recursos naturales se articula a menudo alrededor de dos objetivos específicos, sean: desarrollar un producto con mínimo impacto, pero con gastos elevados y aspirar a un volumen de visitantes que contribuya a las ganancias económicas, pero que traiga la menor degradación ecológica/social posible. Esta posición resume la complejidad y las múltiples paradojas en las cuales se encaja la puesta del turismo en la naturaleza. Las dinámicas sociales y la extensión de la apropiación privativa de los espacios naturales y agrícolas plantean una problemática en los modos de gestión de los recursos comunes y de su perennidad, particularmente en los países del sur. En este contexto, los objetivos, los recursos y las estrategias de los principales actores concernidos son difícilmente conciliables y el sistema de relación que induce no es necesariamente en la misma fase con los objetivos perseguidos.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
urn:doi:10.4000/etudescaribeennes.7884
http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/7884

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Nordic Ecological Society
Résumé : Beta diversity is among the most employed theoretical concepts in ecology and biodiversity conservation. Up to date, a self-contained definition of it, with no reference to alpha and gamma diversity, has never been proposed. Using Kullback-Leibler divergence, we present the explicit formula of Shannon's beta entropy, a bias correction for its estimator and a confidence interval. We also provide the mathematical framework to decompose Shannon diversity into several hierarchical nested levels. From botanical inventories of tropical forest plots in French Guiana, we estimate Shannon diversity at the plot, forest and regional level. We believe this is a complete and usefulness toolbox for ecologists interested in partitioning biodiversity.
ISSN: 0030-1299

hal-01032426
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032426
DOI : 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2011.19267.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Outbreaks of the corallivorous crown-of-thorns seastar Acanthaster planci (COTS) represent one of the greatest disturbances to coral reef ecosystems in the Indo-Pacific, affecting not only coral reefs but also the coastal communities which rely on their resources. While injection approaches are increasingly used in an attempt to control COTS densities, most of them display severe drawbacks including logistical challenges, high residual environmental impacts or low cost-effectiveness. We tested a new alternative control method based upon acidic injections of cheap, 100% natural products. We investigated the lethal doses, intra-and inter-specific disease transmission and immune responses of COTS when injected with fresh lime juice (extracted from local Citrus arantifolia) and white spirit vinegar. High COTS mortality was achieved with small volumes: 10–20 ml per seastar induced death in 89%/ 97% of injected specimens after an average 34.3 h/29.8 h for lime juice and vinegar respectively. Highest efficiency was reached for both solutions with double shots of (2 × 10 ml) in two different areas on the body: 100% mortality occurred within 12–24 h, which is similar or faster compared with other current injection methods. Multiple immune measures suggested that death was very likely caused by pH stress from the acidic solutions rather than a bacterial infection. Contagion to either conspecifics or a variety of other reef species was not observed, even at COTS densities 15 times higher than the highest naturally reported. 10 to 20 l lime juice/vinegar could kill up to a thousand COTS at a cost of less than 0.05 USD per specimen; no permits or special handling procedures are required. We conclude that injections of lime juice and vinegar offer great advantages when compared to current best practises and constitute a cheap and natural option for all reefs affected by COTS.
ISSN: 1932-6203

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01208272
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01208272
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01208272/document
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01208272/file/journal.pone.0137605.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0137605

Résumé : La distribution actuelle des espèces d’arbres des forêts tropicales humides amazoniennes est le résultat de processus dynamiques sur lesquels les perturbations passées, d’origine climatique ou anthropique, peuvent avoir jouées un rôle majeur. Des outils génétiques actuels associés à des méthodes d’analyses puissantes permettent d’inférer et de dater l’empreinte génomique des évènements démographiques subits par les populations naturelles. Le but de cette thèse est de contribuer à une vision d’ensemble de l’évolution démographique de la forêt tropicale humide du plateau des Guyanes pendant le Quaternaire. J’ai d’abord étudié les propriétés des microsatellites (répétitions simple de séquences, SSR) et les limites de leurs applications en tant que marqueurs moléculaires en phylogéographie. Plusieurs allèles SSR contenu dans diverses populations de trois genres d’arbres différents ont été séquencés et le polymorphisme, porté par chaque partie des fragments ADN contenant des SSR, a été étudié. J’ai observé que la quantité de variation génétique était aussi importante dans les régions encadrant le microsatellite que dans le SSR lui-même. Ces régions ont contribué significativement à l’information phylogénétique et ont parfois été la principale source de différenciation entre les individus et les populations. Cette expérience m’a permis de choisir la meilleure stratégie à adopter pour traiter les données de variation génétique des SSR dans des modèles démographiques. J’ai ensuite utilisé ces marqueurs SSR et des méthodes ABC pour étudier l’impact local des occupations humaines précolombiennes sur les forêts en Guyane française. Les changements démographiques subis par des populations de quatre espèces d’arbres ont été comparés entre cinq sites occupés et quatre sites non perturbés. Les perturbations naturelles et induites par l’homme ont contribué à la mise en place de la diversité observée actuellement, comme le suggère des signatures d’effet fondateur détectées sur les sites perturbés ou non. Néanmoins, la taille des populations fondatrices semble être proportionnelle à l’impact humain estimé, indiquant que les perturbations anthropique ont induit un remplacement des populations plus important que les processus écologiques naturels. Pour terminer, j’ai mené une étude de démographie comparative d’espèces d’arbres tropicaux à l’échelle régionale de la Guyane française. Cinq scénarios démographiques ont été testés pour neuf populations de huit espèces en utilisant des microsatellites nucléaires et des séquences chloroplastiques. Les changements démographiques les plus récents détectés convergent vers une signature générale d’expansion de la forêt humide depuis probablement la dernière glaciation. Cela peut suggérer, soit que la composition des forêts du plateau des Guyanes était différente, ou que le couvert forestier était moins étendu. Ce résultat constitue le premier indice de changement passé, probablement d’origine climatique, subi par les communautés forestières du plateau des Guyanes ; qui n’avait jusque-là pas pu être testé avec des méthodes standards en raison d’un manque de fossiles. En conclusion, j’ai recueilli des preuves génétiques que les perturbations, à différents échelles de temps, ont marqué la structure et la composition génétique des forêts du plateau des Guyanes. L’application de ces méthodes à d’autres régions Néotropicales pourrait contribuer, à l’avenir, à reconstruire l’histoire écologique de la forêt amazonienne de façon détaillée.
The current tree species distribution in Amazonian tropical rainforests is the outcome of dynamic processes in which past perturbations, climatic or anthropogenic, may have played a major role. Currently available genetic tools associated with powerful analytical methods allow inferring and dating the genomic imprint of demographic events undergone by natural populations. The aim of my thesis is to contribute to an overview of the demographic evolution of the tropical rainforest in the Guiana shield during the Quaternary. I have first studied the properties of microsatellites or Simple sequence repeat (SSR) and the limits in their applications as molecular markers in phylogeography. Several SSR alleles in multiple populations of three divergent tree genera have been sequenced and the sources of polymorphisms, carried by each portion of SSR-containing DNA amplicons, have been broken apart. I have observed that the amount of variation was as large in flanking regions as in the SSR itself. The former contributed significantly to the phylogenetic information and sometimes was the main source of differentiation among individuals and populations. This experiment allowed me to choose the best strategy to treat SSR variation in demographic modeling. I have subsequently used SSR markers and ABC methods to study the impact of pre-Columbian human settlements at the local level on rainforests in French Guiana. Demographic changes undergone by populations of four tree species were compared between five settled and four undisturbed sites. Both natural turnover and human-induced disturbances appeared as shaping currently observed genetic diversity, with signatures of founder effect both at disturbed and undisturbed sites. Nevertheless, the size of founding populations appeared to be proportional to the estimated human impact, suggesting that human-made disturbance caused deeper population turnover than background ecological processes. Finally, I have conducted a comparative demography study of tropical tree species at the regional level across French Guiana. Five demographic scenarios have been tested for nine populations from eight species using both nuclear microsatellites and chloroplastic sequences. The most recent demographic signals detected converge on a global signature of expansion of the rainforest since probably the last glaciation. This finding can suggest either that the composition of the Guiana shield rainforests was different, or that its global extent was smaller, during earlier epochs of the Pleistocene than today. This result is the first firm indication of changes undergone by the forest communities of the Guiana shield in the distant climatic past – something which could not be tested with standard methods due to almost complete lack of fossil evidence. In conclusion, I have gathered genetic evidence that disturbances, both in historical and geological times, have marked the structure and composition of forests in the Guiana shield.The extensive application of these methods to other regions of the Neotropics maycontribute, in the future, to the detailed reconstruction of the ecological history ofAmazonian forests.

http://www.theses.fr/2012AGUY0568/document

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND: Africa faces a number of unique environmental challenges. Unfortunately, it lacks the infrastructure needed to support the comprehensive environmental studies that could provide the scientific basis to inform environmental policies. There are a number of known sources of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and other hazardous chemicals in Africa. However, a coordinated approach to identify and monitor these contaminants and to develop strategies for public health interventions has not yet been made. OBJECTIVES: This commentary summarizes the scientific evidence presented by experts at the First African Endocrine Disruptors meeting. We describe a "call to action" to utilize the available scientific knowledge to address the impact of EDCs on human and wildlife health in Africa. DISCUSSION: We identify existing knowledge gaps about exposures to EDCs in Africa and describe how well-designed research strategies are needed to address these gaps. A lack of resources for research and a lag in policy implementation slows down intervention strategies and poses a challenge to advancing future health in Africa. CONCLUSION: To address the many challenges posed by EDCs, we argue that Africans should take the lead in prioritization and evaluation of environmental hazards, including EDCs. We recommend the institution of education and training programs for chemical users, adoption of the precautionary principle, establishment of biomonitoring programs, and funding of community-based epidemiology and wildlife research programs led and funded by African institutes and private companies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1774.
Environmental Health Perspectives

hal-01616487
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01616487
DOI : 10.1289/EHP1774
PUBMED : 28935616

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
Plants often rely on external, mutualistic partners to survive and reproduce in resource-limited environments or for protection from enemies. Such interactions, including mycorrhizal symbioses and ant-plant associations, are widespread and play an important role at the ecosystem and community levels. In ant-plant mutualisms, the plants may benefit from both the protection provided by the presence of ants and from the nutrients absorbed from insect debris. However, the role of third partners in plant nutrition, particularly ant-associated fungi, has never before been demonstrated. 2. We investigate this issue in the ant-plant Hirtella physophora. In this model system, Allomerus decemarticulatus ants are involved in two, highly specific interactions: first, with their host plant, and, secondly, with a fungus that they actively manipulate. Moreover, the ants combine both plant trichomes and fungal hyphae to make a trap to capture prey. 3. We empirically demonstrate the existence of a third type of interaction between the fungus and the plant through the use of both experimental enrichments with stable isotopes (15N) and histological approaches. The fungus growing in the galleries plays a role in providing nutrients to the host plant, in addition to the structural role it plays for the ants. Fungus-facilitated nitrogen uptake occurs mainly in old domatia, where abundant hyphae are in close contact with the plant cells. Whether the fungi inside the domatia and those in the galleries are the same is still uncertain. 4. Synthesis. Together, our results show that a fungal partner in an ant-plant mutualism can benefit the plant by improving its nutrient uptake, and they demonstrate the existence of a true tripartite mutualismin this system. Our results add further evidence to the notion that interpretations of some ant-plant symbioses as purely protective mutualisms have overlooked these nutritional aspects.
ISSN: 0022-0477

hal-00818792
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00818792

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Ecological Society of America
Résumé : Herbivores are often implicated in the generation of the extraordinarily diverse tropical flora. One hypothesis linking enemies to plant diversification posits that the evolution of novel defenses allows plants to escape their enemies and expand their ranges. When range expansion involves entering a new habitat type, this could accelerate defense evolution if habitats contain different assemblages of herbivores and/or divergent resource availabilities that affect plant defense allocation. We evaluated this hypothesis by investigating two sister habitat specialist ecotypes of Protium subserratum (Burseraceae), a common Amazonian tree that occurs in white-sand and terra firme forests. We collected insect herbivores feeding on the plants, assessed whether growth differences between habitats were genetically based using a reciprocal transplant experiment, and sampled multiple populations of both lineages for defense chemistry. Protium subserratum plants were attacked mainly by chrysomelid beetles and cicadellid hemipterans. Assemblages of insect herbivores were dissimilar between populations of ecotypes from different habitats, as well as from the same habitat 100 km distant. Populations from terra firme habitats grew significantly faster than white-sand populations; they were taller, produced more leaf area, and had more chlorophyll. White-sand populations expressed more dry mass of secondary compounds and accumulated more flavone glycosides and oxidized terpenes, whereas terra firme populations produced a coumaroylquinic acid that was absent from white-sand populations. We interpret these results as strong evidence that herbivores and resource availability select for divergent types and amounts of defense investment in white-sand and terra firme lineages of Protium subserratum, which may contribute to habitat-mediated speciation in these trees.
ISSN: 0012-9658

hal-01032403
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032403
DOI : 10.1890/12-1920.1